SaxoCell – Living Drugs Made in Saxony

Saxony’s precision therapy cluster aims to deliver effective, safe and affordable cell and gene therapies for patients with severe, currently untreatable diseases. The cluster brings together outstanding basic and applied research in Saxony with industrial resources and national and international expertise. Core partners include TU Dresden, Leipzig University, their university hospitals, the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, and Chemnitz Hospital. As a winner of the BMFTR Clusters4Future initiative, SaxoCell receives €15 million for each implementation phase: 2021–2024 and 2024–2027.

Through seven innovative projects, SaxoCell develops therapies including CAR-T and (CAR-)NK cells, designer-recombinase-based gene therapies and regenerative approaches. With 23 industrial partners, plus preclinical and clinical studies, these therapies are being optimized, automated and prepared for medical use, covering the full value chain in Saxony. Long term, SaxoCell seeks to lower therapy costs and strengthen Saxony as a business location.

The cluster welcomes new partners, especially in automation and artificial intelligence, and supports interdisciplinary project development. Its SaxoCellutions management team also advises on research transfer, IP, innovation management, start-ups and company settlement, promoting regional value creation. It aims to accelerate translation from Saxon laboratories into scalable production and patient care efficiently.